Apparatus for supplying steam to steam tables



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,811

. J. F. ROBBINS APPARATUS FOR SUEPLYING STEAM T0 STEAM TABLES Filed May 4, 1926 Jmwjiom'm,

INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS:-

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES FEED ROBBINS,

OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

AJPPARA'IUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM T STEAM TABLES.

Application and May a, 1926. Serial No. 106,712.

lily invention is an improved means for supplying steam for steam-tables, dishwashers, dish-dryers, and other apparatus requiring the use of steam; said means in the present instance including a steam collecting tank with automatic water-supply tank, pipe connections, etc., whereby steam may be supplied for various uses by an economical use of heat from a range or other heater to efiect a material saving in the running of an establishment such as a restaurant; to produce a type of apparatus in which the water levelin the steam collecting tank is maintained by an automatic water-supply tank alongside of the same instead of placing the float-valve and float within the boiler.

My present invention therefore consists in the particular construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter fully described and s 'accifically set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: ,1

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing my improved apparatusjfor producing low-pressure steam for a steam-table.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View illustrating a modification in the shape and position of the water-supply tank, and boiler.

In providing the present type of apparatus the steam collecting tank has the head 11 secured in place by bolts or screws so that it may be readily and conveniently removed for the purpose of cleaning out the steam collecting tank and has the water inlet pipe passing through the center thereof, with the float operated valve to maintain the desired water level in said steam collecting tank located in a separate tank, hereinafter described. The steam collecting tank is of a convenient size for required steam capacity and so that it may he supported for operation in connection with a water-heater, and when used with a range, A. it may be supported on the ledge 4 thereof, but it will be understood that in addition to being useable in connection with a range burnring coal, coke or other fuel it may be as conveniently and effectively operated in connection with any other heating device, as gas heaters, 830. Extending from the bottom of the steam collecting tank to a water-back or coil in the heating unit, as range A, are pipe connections 13 and 14 provided with valves 13 lit, respectively, and also a short pipe 15 having a cock 15 by means of which the steam collecting tank may be drained for cleaning or the hot-water drawn off at any time for use. Furthermore, the steam collecting tank is provided withwater-gauge 17, blow-off valve 18, and steam-gauge 19, each being of conventional type with the blow-off valve and steam-gauge connected to the steam-supply pipe leading to the apparatus utilizing the steam produced in the steam collecting tank,

tion a predetermined water level is -maintained in the steam collecting tank by an automatic water supply tank independent of the steam collecting tank, that is separate therefrom and locatedadjoining the head 11 thereof through which the pipe connections 26 and 27 between water tank and steam collecting tank pass, each of said pipe connections 26 and 27 including a union 26 and valve27, pipe 26 connecting with steam space in steam collecting tank and pipe 27 with the lower part or water space in water tank and steam collecting tank, it being understood that the steam collecting tank and water tank are substantially on a line with each other. A

normal water level in the tanks and steam collooting tank is provided for by an automatic water supply valve 28, located in the water supply tank and connected to the water supply pipe similar to that illustrated at 61 in Fig. 2 which is provided with a cut-off 30 adjacent the tank and at a point beyond is connectcd by pipe 31 and valve 32 to pipe 13 extending from the steam collecting tank to the water back or heatingcoil; this arrangement of the pipe connections and valves being for the particular purpose hereinafter explained. The automatic water-supply valve is of a con ventional type operated by float similar to that illustrated at 62 in Figure 2, and of course may be adjusted for the desired water level leaving steam space in the upper part of each tank. The water-supply tank may be provided with a draincock 8a tapped in the bottom thereof, and with a blow-off valve in the removably top, if desired.

p The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and hereinbefore described illustrates the preferred form of my invention, and the same purposes may be obtained by the form or type of device shown in Fig. 2, in which I provide a vertical steam collecting tank 40, supported on a standard 41 with a three-way coupling 42 having pipe connection 43 to bottom of steam collecting tank, pipe connection 44 to water-back or coil of the water heater, as a range, &c., and a pipe-connection 45 to waters supply pipe 46; said pipe connection 45 having a cut-off valve 45, and the three-way coupling 42 provided with a draw-off cock 47. The steam collectingtank is provided with a water-gage 48, pipe-connection 49 forming the return from water-back or heating-coil, and from the top extends a steam-supply pipe 50 leading to the steam-table, dish dryer, or other apparatus using the steam, said steam-supply pipe having blow-ofi valve 51 and steam-gage 5:2. The water-tank 53 used in connection with this steam collecting tank is preferably arranged horizontally, as shown, and is also tapered, with thepipe connections 54 and 55 extending into the upper and lower ends of the wider portion of the tank, said pipe-connections each having a union 56 and cut-ofi' valve 57. The tank is supplied with water from the water-supply pipe 46 by a pipe connection 58 having a cut-ofi valve 59, said pipe connection 58 passing through the outer end of the removable head 60 of the tank to an automatic valve 61 having float 62. i

It will be noted that in each instance (Figs. 1 and 2) the float-valve can be examined for repair, etc., or the tank supplying the water to steam collecting tank cleaned out without putting out the fire in a range to which said tank is connected; this being done by simply closing the valves in pipe connections between water supply tank and steam collecting tank, then closing valve in pipe connection between tank and water-supply pipe, and opening the valve in pipe connection between water-supply pipe and bottom of the steam collecting tank; for instance in Fig. 2 by closing valves 57 to cut off communication of water and steam from steam collecting tank,

coupling 4-2; it being understood of course that when the water is being supplied to the steam collecting tank from the automatic tank valve 45 is closed and valves 57, 57, and 59 open. It will also be readily understood that in the operation ot the steam collecting tank it will require no special attention inasmuch as the water is supplied thereto and water-level therein maintained by the automatic supply tank, for if the steam pressure should become too highthe pressure would be lowered by exhaust through blow-ofi' valve 18, 51. The steam accumulating in the space at the upper part of the steam collecting tank is carried away by the steam supply pipe to the steam-table, or wherever it is needed, for a dish-dryer, &c., as I propose to use the apparatus for many different purposes, the arrangement providing an economical steamgenerating unit compact in construction and eiieetive in operation by which a circulation of low pressure steam giving the required heat for a steam table is furnished from the heat of a cookingrange to save the expense of running a steam-boiler.

I claim In combination with a cooking range having a waterback, a steam table and means for supplying steam to the latter, comprising a steam collecting tank mounted a short distance above the topof the cooking range and having a valved outlet pipe depending from the bottom thereof, pipe connections between the water back of the cooking range and the steam collecting tank, and pipe connections between said steam collecting tankand the steam table; together with a water tank also located above the top of the cooking range and alongside of the steam collecting tank, and pipe connections between the water tank and steam collecting tank.

JAMES FRED ROBBINS. 

